Shrouded in Mist

What a week! At first it seemed that our 9 green helpers were gaining the upper hand in the Centre, but now that most of them have left us, KISC is in the hands of the Pinkies again. After some training sessions on Monday, Tuesday was the big D-Day and the battle between Team Fact and Team Fiction. No one really knows who won in the end, all we know is that this D-Day probably had the best and tastiest D-Day dinner cooked by the new Short Termers in the history of D-Days. With a menu of bruschetta, lasagna and Swedish apple cake with homemade vanilla sauce as dessert, this brought KISC cooking to a whole new level. If that level stays as high for the rest of the season, we're in for culinary awesomeness and KISC might very well receive a Michelin star...maybe. On Thursday, the new Short Term Staff participated in their first Staff Night Out when the entire team went Kegeln, a Swiss version of bowling at Hoel Blümlisalp. And even though there was some serious competition from our Kegel-experienced General Director Myriam (CH), the first KISC-Kegel-Off was won by Jack (UK), Reception Assistant soon-to-be Manager.

For the rest of the week, training continued until Saturday evening when it was graduation time. I cannot tell you very much about this top secret tradition, you only need to know that at the end of it, 8 new Pinkies emerged ready to run for the Centre for the next 3 months. And while the KISC family welcomes 8 new members, others still have to leave us: In the next few weeks the Centre will be a lot less Finnish with our Campsite Manager Salla (FI) and our Programme Administration Assistant Riikka (FI) getting ready to return to the "real life". And after her time as House Manager and now two years of PR & Marketing Assistant, we will also have to face saying goodbye to Lou (IT) as she will leave KISC by the end of September.

For the new STS, Sunday marked a well-deserved half-day off which some of the used to go hiking in the pouring-down rain (just to return soaked through to the Centre) while others just looked at their new fantastic pinks in amazement. The weather has turned really autumnal now, after a few days of Indian Summer at the beginning of the training week (it was hot enough for a swim in the Oeschinensee on D-Day actually.) But this has quickly changed to a grey, cloudy sky with constant rain showers. On Sunday evening when the fog lifted, you could even see the ridges of Gällihorn covered with snow.

Not impressed by the weather, all the Short Term Staff began their first full working day on this Sunday morning, in House, Catering and Maintenance - which hopefully means that there will be a lot of progress on the Irish Room renovation this week. And although guest numbers are quickly dropping to reach our usual low season average, everyone at the Centre is still busy closing Summer, starting by deep cleaning in the guest laundries, to prepare the Centre for the few guests we are looking forward to welcoming this Autumn.The beginning of a quieter time will also mean that this Latest News section will return to low season operation with new updates on a two-weekly basis.

UNGUIDED HIKES

ECO ACTIVITIES

One of the main themes of our Programme the environment is important to all Scouts. We have Guided and Self-Guided Programme as well as the Eco Adventure Room and environmental information around the Centre and Campsite.